Charpentier: For now, a crowning moment

FOXBORO – In an arduous season of survival, the Patriots wear the crown of AFC East champions.

RUSS CHARPENTIER

FOXBORO – In an arduous season of survival, the Patriots wear the crown of AFC East champions.

It is a crown that rests lightly upon their heads as the playoffs beckon, for this is a team a step below the best and a step above the rest.

But yesterday, they were clearly above and beyond the abilities of the desperate Jacksonville Jaguars.

It made for, in the words of Randy Moss, a fun day at the stadium.It always is when everything goes right.

In a season of questionable defense, it was the defenders who set the tone.

In a season of inconsistent offense, it was a well-oiled machine that moved at will.Yesterday was, for these Patriots, a stroll in the park.

No questions.

No disappointments.

No boos.

A rare Sunday when, dare we say, they looked more like the Patriots we'd come to know earlier this decade.

They brought the excitement back to what had become for much of 2009 a quiet Gillette Stadium.

Chants of “Randy, Randy, Randy,” filled the air after Moss' third touchdown catch, the high-point of his roller-coaster season.

A fan in the stands wearing a Moss mask and wig was shown on the scoreboard, mimicking the actions the receiver makes after scoring a touchdown. Then Moss was shown watching and laughing at the antics.

The Patriots on the sideline were cracking up.

The Jekyl-and-Hyde fans ate it up.

A true love-in.

“There are going to be some good times and bad times in football,” Moss said later in a brief but entertaining press conference. “Just by hearing the fans in the stadium behind me, it felt good. My last performance here wasn't really too hot.”

That was just two weeks ago, a 20-10 victory over Carolina, when Moss was booed heavily and questions concerning his effort were argued nationwide.

There won't be any of that talk this week.

Yesterday's dominating performance propelled the Patriots into the playoffs, and Moss was just one of the reasons.

Tom Brady was nearly perfect, completing 23 of 26 passes for 267 yards and four TDs. Sammy Morris ran like he was 22, not 32, picking up 95 yards on 12 carries. Wes Welker – well, Wes Welker was Wes Welker. Thirteen throws came his way from Brady. He call all 13 balls for 138 yards.

The New England defense had a couple of picks and a couple of sacks. And the defense made the stops early, when Jacksonville rolled the dice at its own 35 on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 and failed.

This was a New England team that, save for a Laurence Maloney fumble at the Jacksonville 1 that killed New England's first drive, played a near-perfect game.

It's also a New England team that has won three straight.

And now the Patriots will host a postseason game in the comfy confines of Gillette, where they are 8-0 this season and no team wants to visit.

Who knows what to expect from the Patriots?

But they are in the playoffs, and don't underestimate this team come January.

Staff writer Russ Charpentier can be reached at 508-862-1263 or rcharpentier@capecodonline.com.